At least 91 people were killed and more than 100 were displaced after landslide following torrential rain struck Sri Lanka on Friday.
Rescue and search operations by helicopters and boats are on.
The Indian Navy is also assisting in the relief operations, where INS Kirch is operating in the Bay of Bengal and is being diverted to Colombo. INS Shardul with medical relief kits and have left from Kochi port at 7 am and is likely to reach Colombo by tonight.
Besides that, INS Jalashwa will sail out from Visakhapatnam shortly with HADR (Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief) stores which that will include victualling, clothing, medicines and water. It will also carry medical and diving teams to assist in the operations.
Police spokesman Priyantha Jayakody said, “There are at least five landslides reported in several places in Kalutara. “Rescue operations are still taking place.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences in a series of tweets and also assured the country of complete assistance in search and rescue operations.
India condoles the loss of lives and property in Sri Lanka due to flooding and landslides.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2017
We stand with our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters in their hour of need.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2017
Our ships are being dispatched with relief material. The first ship will reach Colombo tomorrow morning.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2017
The second will reach on Sunday. Further assistance on its way.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 26, 2017
The disaster management centre said 91 people had been killed and 110 were missing. It also said that 38 deaths were reported from Kalutara while 46 were reported from the central southern district of Ratnapura.
Military Spokesman Roshan Senevirathne said about 400 military personnel had been deployed with boats and helicopters to assist the civilians.
Usually, it is the period during May to September that Sri Lanka experiences the highest rainfall in the year. It also receives heavy rainfall in the monsoonal season from November to February.
The country has been warned of more rains in the next 24 hours.
